"A year later, the state made a charge like one of its Panthers, pushing its way up to No. 5 — scoring a total of 1,569 points out of 2,500," an entry on the countdown post says. "North Carolina posted some powerful numbers, having the fourth-best economy as well as workforce — which is mostly nonunion. Last year, the Old North State's economy was 13th."

CNBC credits the state's rise in part to "some substantial fiscal policy changes that have been made, such as a reduction in individual income and corporate tax."

Neighboring South Carolina came in at No. 24 overall this year, slipping one spot from No. 23 last year. Georgia took the top spot.

Says CNBC of its methodology: "Each year, our Top States study rates all 50 states on more than 50 metrics in 10 categories of competitiveness. We weight the categories based on how frequently they appear as selling points in state economic development marketing materials. That way, we hold the states to their own standards."

Those categories are cost of doing business, work force, quality of life, infrastructure, economy, education, technology and innovation, business friendliness, access to capital and cost of living.

Jen Wilson coordinates the Charlotte Business Journal's online operations and social-media efforts, chronicles local events for CBJ Seen and takes photographs.

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